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June 14, 2011

Ever since I started this blog I have really begun taking an interest in photography. I was into photography before but never invested the money in a good DSLR. In fact it wasn't until a couple years ago that DSLRs became affordable to me. But since that purchase I haven't looked back. I remember writing about the first few fast shutter shots I took and how impressed I was with the results.

I am constantly impressed by the ability of people just like me who have had no formal training to produce professional quality photos. Even starting their own photography businesses on what began as a hobby. With today's photo imaging technology it's easier than ever to take quality shots.

Which is why I'm so excited to share a great resource with you other budding photographers out there. A couple weeks ago I saw this e-book on Made. I emailed the author, photographer Katie Perkes, for a chance to review it and give a few away. And happily, she agreed to offer three copies to three Grosgrain readers.

What caught my attention with this ebook was the info on getting good natural lighting. So often I see these great shots of kids whose faces seem lit up but you can tell the photo is not taken in full sun. Katie goes into detail about how to get those great shots and more.

Did you ever see that saying "You are not a photographer. You just have an overpriced camera." I feel like that is true for a lot of people. So often I see parents at school events with their obviously very expensive Canon DSLRs that are using the flash pointed directly at their subjects while indoors with decent lighting. Or paying no attention to any of the manual settings and using only the options on the 'auto' side of the wheel. (Here's a tip, if you know your manual settings it is very rare that you have to use that ugly flash).

Katie helps people with great cameras, take those great photos that they bought their great camera for in the first place! In her second chapter she discusses all the basics of SLRs. That being shutter, aperture, ISO. If you know the very basics of these three settings your photos will improve 100% percent. I promise. And it's not rocket science. Katie explains everything in very everyday terms. No professional words here. If you know zero about the manual settings of your DSLR by Chapter three you won't ever need to switch that dial to 'Auto' again.

Those are the most important parts of photography but they are certainly not the only great pieces of advice Katie offers. She also goes into detail about how to create a great shoots and how to compose the subjects in your photos for a great look.

And finally Katie goes into a chapter about something that I think should be a must for any photographer and that is a great photo editing software. Using a powerful photo editing software can sometimes take a really dull looking photo and turn it into the best of your shoot.

For those of you who've never even opened a photo editing program, Katie explains some very basic tools like contrast, vibrance and blacks and tells you how to use them to make your photos POP! But she also mentions some more in depth tips like converting to black and white the proper way, actions/presets, using brushes to highlight specific areas, fixing overexposure, using a really amazing tool called 'clarity' and many other highly useful tools.

So don't be one of those people with a great camera who takes mediocre photos. You really don't have to be scared of your manual settings! It's not like you're wasting film, right?! Katie's great ebook is a fabulous start to becoming a photographer and not just someone with an expensive camera.

If you'd like to purchase her ebook right now, Katie is offering Grosgrain readers a $2.00 of discount of her ebook! Use coupon code: grosgrain at checkout.

For your chance to win ONE OF THREE COPIES of Katie's ebook, Grosgrain giveaways can be entered by any ONE of four ways:

1) By linking about this giveaway (to your blog, facebook, or any other site) button is below. 2) By leaving a comment3) By FOLLOWING Grosgrain using this link. If the link is not working please use THE LINK IN MY RIGHT SIDEBAR.4) By following me on Twitter

Just remember to please leave me a comment telling me what you did so that I can go back and look for your entry. Either give me the link that you posted for the giveaway to or tell me that you began to follow me.

I would really love a copy of this book.. Katie looks like a great photographer and I've been struggling with my new camera for a few months now. Thanks for arranging this giveaway and doing this review.

Well, I never know if my link works, so a comment would be nice, yah? This would be so wonderful to help me learn my new camera. I too have become interested in taking great photos since I started my blog. Thanks for another wonderful giveaway!

This looks like an excellent book, just what I need. I've been taking pictures for years, but, until last year when my little trusty point and shoot gave up its ghost, I hadn't used the nice SLR I also owned - ever. A class helped, but I know there's so much more to learn still.

This would be so amazing to have and learn some new-to-me photography tricks from! I've been feeling majorly stuck with my photography lately, and need to get out of my rut. ;) Here's hoping I win a copy! :D

Oh that e-book looks wonderful! My husband bought me a technical book and I just couldn't get through all the chapters on f-stops and white balance. I know it matters -- but I can't get my head around the vocabulary! (Is that a little embarrassing to admit?)

Look at great photographs. Really look. At all kinds. On easily accessible sites like National Geo, LIFE, etc. Look at the old LIFE archives. See what made it onto LIFE & what were toss outs. Enlightening.

My lovely StumbleUpon brought me to your "Twisted Sister" tutorial (which, ironically, i'm excited to try on my sister's hair tonight!) and then I started reading through your blog, of which I'm now a new follower! Crafty, inspirational stuff- I love it!

I'd love to win this book and pick up some new tricks on using my "overpriced" camera more effectively!

I follow you all over the place :) I hope I win, if not I am pretty sure I will just buy it anyways. I just wish I lived closer so I could take one of her workshops. Is her book available in a printed format?